Shawn Mitchell rethinks civil unions

A Republican lawmaker whose opposition to gay rights triggered liberal Tim Gill[3] into spending millions to elect Democrats is rethinking his position on civil unions.

Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, said today in a blog piece that his vote against Senate Bill 172[4], which would create civil unions, was a “challenging vote:”

After 13 years in the legislature, it was the first time I remember not participating in debate on a “gay rights” issue.

Among many competing thoughts, two were most powerful, and felt in tension with each other: supporting marriage and the parent-child family as the foundation of a sustainable society; and dealing justly and decently with citizens who want only to enjoy domestic tranquility with loved ones.

I’ve long shared the conservative view that you can’t embrace the second without undermining the first; recognizing same sex relationships would accelerate the fraying of society’s commitment to the nuclear family and bonds among mother, father, and children. However, in recent years and for various reasons, that doesn’t feel as clear as it used to.

Mitchell was one of 12 Republicans to vote against SB 172, which passed the Senate with the support of all 20 Democrats and three Republicans. The bill died on a party-line vote[6] in House Judiciary, with six Republicans voting “no” and five Democrats in support.

Mitchell early in his career earned a reputation as one of the leading voices at the Capitol against gay issues, but has been much more silent in recent years.

Mitchell in 2003 introduced a bill that would limiting schools’ abilities to teach about all forms of human sexuality.

“That meant a teacher couldn’t invite me to speak to the class because I’m a walking alternative sexual lifestyle,” Gill said in a 2004 interview with The Denver Post. “I was furious with Shawn. Absolutely furious.”

Gill and other wealthy Democrats united and in 2004 did the unthinkable: Democrats won both the House and the Senate, a feat not seen in Colorado since 1960. They also picked up a Senate seat and congressional race.

Mitchell also publicly endorsed Ryan Call[7] last month in his bid for the state GOP chairman, choosing Call over the more conservative candidate, Sen. Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch. Some were surprised at Mitchell’s endorsement and his tough words for the far right:

“Being a conservative and being a good leader is not enough for some people. They want to measure your principles by how harshly you criticize the people that you disagree with you.